Nelson Mandela 'showing sustained improvement'

South Africa says the condition of former president and anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela continues to improve, six weeks after he was admitted to hospital.

"Former president Mandela is still in a critical condition in hospital but shows sustained improvement," a government statement said.

In another upbeat statement, president Jacob Zuma also thanked South Africans and the world for the outpouring of support that marked Mr Mandela's 95th birthday last week.

"The birthday celebrations for the former president on the 18th of July were the biggest ever this year, attracting scores of South Africans who engaged in community service in honour of Madiba," the presidency said, using Mr Mandela's clan name.

South Africans had come out in large numbers to mark the occasion, after weeks fraught with concern about their beloved elder statesman.

Mr Mandela was rushed to a Pretoria hospital on June 8 with a recurring lung infection.

He has a history of lung problems dating back to his time at the Robben Island prison camp near Cape Town.

He was released in 1990 after 27 years behind bars and went on to serve as president from 1994 to 1999.

Although Mr Mandela has long since left the political stage and has not been seen in public since 2010, he remains a towering symbol in South African public life.